288 



JODBNAL OP HOBTICULTUBB AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



C April 18, 1867. 



the hive; or if she was seized and forced to resign, -when 

 another more succeasful was allowed to reign ? If apiarians in 

 general would pay some attention to hives under these circum- 

 stances, it might in some cases assist in clearing up a mystery, 

 or what appears to be one, and might also throw some light on 

 cases of a supposed second impregnation. — A Lanarkshire 

 Bee-keeper. 



HOW TO EMPTY HONEYCOMBS. 



The bee papers of Germany and America are filled with 

 accouiits of a discovery by an Italian apiarian, of a method of 

 emptying combs of honey without injuring them. The process 

 is exceedingly simple and consists only in slicing off the caps 

 of the cells, and then causing the combs to revolve on the peri- 

 phery of a wheel or cylinder, which empties one side of honey 

 — then the other side is turned and emptied. Liquids upon 

 bodies which are whirled or revolved tend to Rv off by what is 

 called centrifugal force. In this case the revolution is so 

 graduated that only the honey flies off, and dead bees, bee-bread, 

 &c., remain behind, so that not only is the comb saved, but the 

 honey is purer and better than that strained. The temperature 

 requisite to success, is about 80° Fahrenheit, which is gained 

 in a warm room nr on a sunny day. 



The value of this invention may be the better appreciated, 

 when it is known that it requires the consumption by the bees, 

 of 15 to 20 lbs. of honey (estimates vary), to make 1 "lb. of wax, 

 consequently, that the comb requires for its construction the 

 use of just about as much honey as it will contain when filled. 

 It may be found that in the economy of bee life, it is essential 

 for the bees to make or excrete a certain amount of wax in 

 order to remain in good health ; but this is hardly probable, for 

 it has Jong been the practice of bee-keepers to save empty or 

 partly filled combs with scrupulous care, and give them to the 

 bees, and no bad results have ever been noticed. — [American 

 Agriculttirist.) 



FRUIT ESSENCES. 



The products known nnder the name of Fruit Essences, are 

 alcoholic solutions of different ethers, to which are sometimes 

 added certain acids, or certain natural essences. Glycerine is 

 found in all ; it appears to blend the different odours, and to 

 harmonise them. It is necessary to state, that the alcohol used, 

 as well as all the other substances, must be chemically pure. 



Each column represents the measures to be added to 100 of 

 the same measure of alcohol. 



the super, but had replaced it again for the purpose of ** no to be 

 fashed feeding," remarking at the same time that for three or 

 four hours after manipulation the other bees robbed it, but 

 had since stopped. Now the fact is that it had been entirely 

 robbed out, and had never made any resistance. This was the 

 more singular as it consisted of two strong swarms joined, and 

 the stranger bees had actually to pass through the three lower 

 boxes ere they reached the super. My friend wondered at it. 

 and asked my opinion. '* My experience," I said, " with bees 

 is that to stranger bees, as well as to man, they become docile 

 when well filled with honey. When you removed the super 

 the tenants filled themselves, and would not offer any resist- 

 ance." I then advised him, when bees were disposed to rob, to 

 remove all supers at dusk, as the bees would then have full 

 time to disgorge themselves, and be ready for defence by the 

 next morning. There are also times, I remarked, when food 

 ought at first to be gradually given, as bees sometimes fill 

 themselves and kept themselves filled as if they were secreting 

 wax, and then they offer little resistance to strangers. That a 

 sudden jerk or even a slight inspection sometimes caused them 

 to fill themselves, aud brought them into imminent peril of 

 being robbed. — A Lanarkshire Bee-keeper, 



— (Binglefs Polytech, Journal.) 



KON-RESISTING BEES. 

 I LAST summer paid a visit to a friend who had a number of 

 hive3, of which I purchased several, and had them prepared 

 for removal, when an inspection of the rest of his stock was 

 invited. He remarked that there was one good hive, as it had 

 a honey-box, the contents of which weighed exactly 25 lbs., but 

 there was not much in the rest of the four octagon boxes 

 which the stock inhabited, he haying a few days since remoyed 



OUR LETTER BOX. 



WroTON Poultry Show (B. W. C.).— We cannot notice other journalists' 

 mibtakea. The reference was evidently to Hambur^ihs. 



Hens Laying {W. A. 0.).— You can only ascertain by watching them. 



Books [Diclieii Birrf).~Mr. Brent's /' Canary and Other Song Birds " 

 includes other soncsters besides the Canary You can have it free by 

 po'^t from our office if you enclose twenty stamps with your address. 

 " The Pigeon Book " relates to Pigeons only. Yon can have it sent for 

 twenty stamps. "The Poultry Book for the Many" you can liave for 

 seven postage stamps. 



Daily Management {L. T. B.).— TVhat management do you refer to ? 



Spanish Fowls {J. K.).— We never heard of Spanish fowls being sold 

 for 30s. per dozen, and that they are not to be had at that price is evi- 

 denced by your advertisement being unanswered. 



Ulcers on Spanish Cock's Face (T.J. P.).— The red spots and the 

 offensive discharge from same indicate, we fear, that ulceration which is 

 considered incurable. We think it possible to cure it, aud recommend 

 you to apply acetate of iron once daily to the ulcere. 



Work on Pigeons {W. Ma'ixcy). — We cannot insert your communica- 

 tion. You only repeat more strongly what '* Wiltsiure Rector" stated. 



Lap^vings (J. TV. H.). — We have no knowledge of the mode of catching 

 them. 



Parrot, a Feather-eater (S. BurnenK—Ormi hempseed and bones 

 from the bird's diet, and ki^ep it on soaked broad and fruit, such as 

 apple, figs, raisins, &c. Let the bird have a tepid bath every day, which 

 is usually effected by allowing the bird access to a soup-plate full of 

 water slightly warmed. It the bird avoids bathing pour the water over 

 it through the rose of a watering pot. 



Cock Canary E.vtino the Eggs (C. C.).— The best advice we can give 

 is contained in the following extract from Brent's " Canary and Other 

 Song Birds:" — "Some fanciers remove the eggs as laid, substituting a 

 bone or ivory egg till all are laid, keeping the eggs in a cool and safe 

 place, and returning them when the hen ceases to lay. This is very 

 necessary if the cock is inclined to bo mischievous, in which case he 

 should be removed, or placed in the compartment of the cage when the 

 eggs are put into the nest. It has also the advantage of hatching all the 

 young at one time." You can have the book free by post from our office, 

 if you enclose twenty postage stamps with your address. 



Payne's Hives (ficv. W, V. IK.).— They may be purchased of Messrs. 

 Neighbour & Sons, Regent Street, or of Mr. Pettitt, I)over. 



Propagating Ligckians {Q.) — The posseesiun of moveable comb 

 hives is so essential to the artificial propagation of Ligurian bees, that 

 ray instructions were based upon the supposition Uiat any apiarian who 

 contemplates following them will first avail himself of the advantages 

 offered by hives of this description — A Devonshire Bee-keeper. 



Insect Preying on the Black Currant {A Lanarhthire Bee-keeper.)—' 

 We have submitted your sketch and description to au eminent naturalist, 

 who fails to identify the insect. You had better send us a specimen or 

 two by post enclosed iu a quill for safe carriage. 



Gold Fish. — A correspondent wishes for some information under the 

 following cirenmstances:— "In the kitchen garden is a largish pond of 

 good water, with a stream flowing through it. At various times, first of 

 all about three years ago, there have been turned into it, about in ail, 

 three dozen of these fish. Only about seven now remain, and moat of 

 them have grown verj' large. I have not ascertained one instance of any 

 being bred in the pond, and they gradually diminish. They cannot be 

 stolen, for no one here could dispose of them. When first put in they 

 were all gold colour; several turned white or silver. What is the cause 

 of thi:3? The ice on the pond is regularly broken in the winter. It is 

 about 6 feet deep. There are a few trout in it, not large onea." — 

 W. W. E. W. 



POULTRY M.\RIvET.— April 17 



s d. 



s. d I 



Pheasants to 



Largfl Fowls 4 to 4 6 



Sirnller do 8 6 4 



Chickens 2 6 3 



Go.slings 7 6 8 



Ducklingd 3 6 4 



Pigeons 8 9 I Wild do 



9. d 



Partridges 



Grouse 



Guinea Fowls 2 6 



Rabbits 1 4 



